After the three people had withdrew and the door was closed once again, Ruan Xiang Yin played with the jade flute in her hand and asked the person sitting on the bed.
"Dong Fang Tang, do you know which are the four tunes in 'The Four Soul-Oppression Tunes' that my father created?"
"I heard it was 'Soul-Oppression', 'Soul-Securing ', 'Soul-Breaking' and 'Soul-Killing'."
That year because of his creation of 'The Four Soul-Oppression Tunes', 'Weird Doctor' Ruan Da Jiu became famous in Jianghu. He could enter the acupuncture points of a human body with the whistling sounds from his flute to effectively heal the person. Even people who were extremely sick could be relieved from their pain by just listening to his flute and go into deep slumber......however, this 'The Four Soul-Oppression Tunes', when played on the flute, could save people, it could also be used to kill people.
He remembered his late Teacher had once said that Ruan Da Jiu's flute sounds had both the power to save people and kill people. But it was a pity that this man was something of an eccentric, someone who could not be deduced in a normal way. Although he was highly talented in medicine, he was unwilling to practice medicine to save people. After becoming famous for a few years in Jianghu, he suddenly disappeared without a trace.
"That's correct. In 'The Four Soul-Oppression Tunes', except for 'Soul-Oppression' and 'Soul-Securing', the other two tunes 'Soul-Breaking' and 'Soul-Killing' are used to kill people. When I play my version of the tune 'Soul-Killing', it will remove the Half-Month Gu from your body. Dong Fang Tang, cover up your ears and if you are unable to withstand the sound of the flute, you will have to block it with your internal energy."
As soon as Ruan Xiang Yin finished speaking, her delicate figure suddenly turned and sat down on the mahogany chair below the windowsill. Her bright eyes squinted and started to play the tune 'Soul-Killing'.
The flute sounds were clear and hurried with sudden long and short notes. Immediately, Dong Fang Tang could feel the wriggling sensation in his abdomen fluctuating with the fast and slow sounds of the flute. The blood in his whole body started to vibrate. Quickly he closed his eyes and started to gather his internal energy. After half a sichen*, the sound from the flute stopped and the wriggling sensation in his abdomen was gone.
(One sichen is equivalent to 2 hours)
Ruan Xiang Yin's face was slightly pale and her breathing was erratic. She went over and stopped in front of him, then handed him a red pill.
"Take this medicine and after a quarter of a sichen, you have to go to the latrine. This will help you discharge all the dead Gu inside your abdomen."
"Miss Ruan, what is the matter with you?" Dong Fang Tang noticed something wrong with her expression and asked with concern. After he had finished asking the question, unexpectedly and without warning, Ruan Xiang Yin's body softened and collapsed. Dong Fang Tang quickly extended his arm and caught her weak body just in time.
"Third Young Master!"
"Third Brother!"
Wang Qin, Zhang Zhen and Zhang Sheng, the three people, after hearing the flute had stopped playing, pushed the door open and rushed in with worry. When they entered the bedchamber, they did not expect to see Dong Fang Tang cradling someone in his arms.
"Third Young Master, what happened to Miss Ruan?" Wang Qin asked in puzzlement.
Miss Ruan is supposed to be treating Third Young Master, right? How come she had fainted in his arms? What had happened?
"She had caused too much harm to her internal energy and she fainted because her breathing and blood flow are not smooth."
After Dong Fang Tang had checked the pulse of the person in his arms, his eyebrows wrinkled slightly. He did not expect 'The Four Soul-Oppression Tunes' could actually deplete internal energy this much.
"Third Brother, are you alright?" Zhang Zhen asked anxiously.
"I'm fine." Dong Fang Tang picked up the person in his arms and said to Wang Qin. "Wang Qin, please prepare a clean guest chamber."
"Alright. Third Young Master, please follow me."
Wang Qin led Dong Fang Tang to the guest chamber. All along the way, from time to time, he would turn around his head to look back. He wondered whether he was mistaken but he had a feeling that when Third Young Master looked at the unconscious Miss Ruan, his gaze was a little special. It was not the usual concern for his patient, it was more like he was showing a little more worry for her.
***#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#***
Where is this place?
Ruan Xiang Yin opened her pair of bright eyes and looked around. The furnishings was unfamiliar. Memories before she fell unconscious quickly flashed back........
This is a guest chamber in Long Feng Restaurant.
She quickly turned her body and sat up.
The chamber was simple and clean and outside, the faint sounds of the waiters' shouts could be heard. Her eyes narrowed, thought for a long time wondering whether she should leave.
Dong Fang Tang's Gu poison had already been resolved and by right, she should leave but then she thought of her father's willful behavior.
What if the moment she walks out of here, her father comes forward to harm him again? Then what should she do? But if she stays back, she would have to stay for another two months before her mother comes back from Miao Jiang. Her father will then only obediently return to Le Mountain.
"Miss Ruan, you're awake. Just the right time for you to drink this bowl of medicine."
Dong Fang Tang was holding a bowl of medicine as he pushed the door opened to enter. When his black eyes met her cold bright eyes, his handsome face broke into a slight smile.
She sat silently on the bed and waited until he came near, then took the bowl of medicine from him and sniffed it. Instantly, she knew the bowl of medicine was for nourishing energy and blood, so she did not say anything and drank it in a breath.
He took the empty bowl from her and when he noticed her face was not as pale as before, he felt relieved.
"Miss Ruan, this time it was thanks to your help in saving me otherwise even as a doctor, in face of this Gu poison, I will not be able to do anything."
Even if he is known as the Divine Doctor and he can save people but in face of Gu poison which only the person who cast the Gu can save him, he was powerless to do anything. If not for her, who is familiar with this Gu and she is able to undo it otherwise he can only wait for death to claim him.
"This trouble was caused by my father and as his daughter, it's my responsibility to solve this. Fortunately, my father is not a part of the Miao Tribe. He only has a little knowledge of this practice and he only knows this Half-Month Gu. If today, this Gu is cast by my mother, then things will be more complicated."
Her mother as the daughter of the Miao Patriarch, she is even more skilled in casting Gudu. Fortunately, her mother is an understanding person and not like her father who is willful and rash. Her mother had taught her the technique of casting Gu however, she was more interested in the method of undoing Gu. She studied intensely on 'The Four Soul-Oppression Tunes' created by her father, then with fine-tuning the rhythm combined with internal energy, she was able to change the 'Soul-Killing' tune to undo the Gu to become Dead Soul.
"I'm very sorry. To save me, Miss Ruan had damaged too much of your internal energy."
"You don't have to thank me. I've said before, this trouble was caused by my father and being his daughter, naturally, I have to solve this."
As to her indifference, with Dong Fang Tang's good temperament, it did not bother him. On his face, there was still a smile and his black eyes watched her elegant indifferent little face.
"Miss Ruan, if you're not in a hurry to leave and if you are willing to stay here for a few more days, why not let me perform my duties as your host and properly entertain you as my guest?"
The delicate face of Ruan Xiang Yin showed her hesitation and she narrowed her eyes. When she looked up, her bright eyes stared at the gently smiling face waiting for her answer.
"Alright." Her pink lips lifted and nodded her head.
She must be mistaken, why did she feel Dong Fang Tang's smile had deepened? Did the muscles of his mouth loosen?
The hospitality of this Dong Fang Tang is really special.
"Doctor Dong Fang, I don't know what happened. I have rashes all over my body. Will I die?"
A young patient rolled up his sleeves and pants. Anyone would be shocked with the swollen red lumps that covered both his hands and legs.
After Dong Fang Tang had checked his pulse, he looked at the patient's symptoms and then he calmed the patient's nervousness.
"You have rubella, it won't kill you. I'll give you a prescription and remember to take the medicine on time. When you bath, the water must not be too hot and don't scratch them."
"Thank you, doctor." The young patient holding the prescription quickly left.
Ruan Xiang Yin stood at the side and watched for a long time. She noticed Dong Fang Tang did not collect any monies from the poorer people. Some of them even received free medicine. If the patient is some more affluent people, they also paid only a nominal fee.
She felt she had seen enough and decided to leave. When she turned around, her right wrist was suddenly caught. She was surprised and turned around to face a pair of smiling black eyes.
Isn't this man suppose to be treating his patients?
"Everyone, let me introduce someone to you. This is Miss Ruan and she is also a doctor. If you have any illness, you can also look for her."
Without any warning, Dong Fang Tang pushed her forward and introduced her to everyone present.
After listening to him, everyone was happy and thanked them. Some even whispered among themselves, guessing the relationship between the two of them. After the crowd had left, a pair of fiery, bright eyes glared at the man beside her.
"Dong Fang Tang, who are you to decide for me?"
She did not possess the great aspiration to be a doctor who will save the world. This man is too disrespectful to her.
"Miss Ruan, it was wrong of me to make the decision for you but don't you think that since we have this ability, why don't we help these poor people? Since Miss Ruan is kind-hearted, I believe you will not refuse."
Dong Fang Tang still displayed a kind gentle appearance as he smiled as he looked into her angry sparkling bright eyes.
This girl always has a cold, icy appearance and keeps people at a distance of a thousand miles. Only when she is angry then only she seems to be more approachable.
"Who says I am kind-hearted? One Dong Fang Tang here will suffice, why is there a need for another me?"
Even though how nicely this man said this, Ruan Xiang Yin was not convinced. If he wants to be a good person, he can do it himself without getting her involved. She glared at him unpleasantly, immediately turned and walked away.
The smile on Dong Fang Tang did not change and he did not feel offended by her words at all. With both his hands clasped behind his back, he followed leisurely behind her.
The street was bustling with activity with many stalls were set up on both sides and the cries of the hawkers rose and fell along the way. Walking in the middle of the crowded street, she did not stop nor look around. She just walked slowly and immersed herself in her thoughts.
"Be careful!"
A warning floated into her ear. The next moment, she felt her body fall back into a broad chest and then only did she break away from her thoughts.
"Miss,.....Doctor Dong Fang,......I'm really sorry to have startled you."
A vegetable seller pushing a cart full of vegetables was not paying attention and nearly ran into the girl in Doctor Dong Fang's arms. He felt guilty and apologized profusely to the both of them.
"It's alright. Just be more careful."
Dong Fang Tang was still smiling gently and did not harshly reprimand him.
When the vegetable seller left in gratitude, Dong Fang Tang found himself holding two big Chinese cabbages in his hands. It was only then did Ruan Xiang Yin realized she was still in his arms. She hurriedly pulled away and asked coldly. "Why are you following me?"
"Miss Ruan, since I have promised to be your host and properly entertain you as my guest, it is improper to ignore you and leave you alone." Ignoring her coldness, Dong Fang Tang still maintained his good temper and said.
He had put it so nicely but just now didn't he entrap her into attending to the patients?
She coldly returned his look and then rested her eyes on the cabbages in his hands. This scene was a bit funny and she was unaware her pink lips had lifted slightly. She turned around and walked straight ahead. Since he wanted to follow her, so just let him be.
"Come! Hot red bean buns!"
A hawker was yelling at the top of his voice and many people were rushing over to him. Everyone was holding a few buns in their hands and it seems his business was good.
Ruan Xiang Yin curiously walked forward, enticed by the fragrant aroma and she felt a bit hungry.
"Uncle, how much is a red bean bun?"
"Miss, a red bean bun is......."
The hawker had spoken half-way when he saw Dong Fang Tang standing behind her. He looked at her then quickly packed two buns and gave it to her. However, his eyes were looking at Dong Fang Tang.
"Miss, these red bean buns are for you and Doctor Dong Fang. Doctor Dong Fang, thank you for healing my mother's illness and you did not even accept money from me. Thank you very much."
The hawker was so grateful that he endlessly thanked him.
It was indeed fortunate for the people that Doctor Dong Fang was able to come to Gang Ling City.